Trump’s Powerful Presidency Discussed on Breitbart
In a recent discussion on Breitbart News Saturday, Jonathan Swan, a reporter for the New York Times and co-author of the book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, emphasized that Donald Trump’s position as one of the most influential presidents in U.S. history is hardly debatable.
Matthew Boyle, host and Washington bureau chief at Breitbart News, pointed out that the book describes Trump’s presidency as arguably one of the most potent in recent times, particularly considering the significant changes witnessed.
“Yes, I don’t think that’s a controversial claim,” Swan remarked. He recounted a conversation with Trump during their interviews for the book, where Trump himself acknowledged this notion.
Swan explained that the break between Trump’s two terms allowed him to wield his power more decisively this time around. This gap means he has a different team—more unified and supportive—compared to the first term, which was filled with officials who saw him as a threat.
“You can look at it in various ways, starting with the team. In his first term, there were many who believed they had to shield the country from Trump,” he noted, mentioning names like James Mattis, John Kelly, Rex Tillerson, and John Bolton.
“That long list of skeptics isn’t present this time. Instead, he has a close-knit group of loyal supporters, some of whom were with him from the campaign. We even highlighted that in our book, and it was quite a thrilling journey,” Swan added.
He also remarked about the connections within Trump’s inner circle, referring to how many faced subpoenas during investigations, creating a shared sense of urgency. This experience, he felt, led them to approach the current term differently.
Regarding the planning for the second term, Swan mentioned that key figures like Stephen Miller and Russ Vought have dedicated substantial time to developing strategies, particularly around policies like immigration. Their efforts were anything but haphazard.
“While Trump often leads with improvisation, key elements this term are grounded in long-term planning. And that’s something we’ll be addressing,” he concluded.
Breitbart News Saturdays airs on SiriusXM Patriot 125 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.
